Intervention by H.E. Pen Bona, Royal Government Spokesperson:

As the Royal Government Spokesperson, I’d like to highlight the following key points:

First, I’d like to express my deep gratitude to all Cambodian citizens, both at home and abroad, who consistently dedicate themselves to the nation through their support and encouragement for our forces at the front line. Your collective voice, expressed through various channels, demonstrates to the world that Cambodians love and desire peace and strive for harmony and stability. Additionally, I would like to extend profound gratitude to our courageous Armed Forces and all relevant agencies who have been standing firmly to protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Second, since becoming a party to the Ottawa Convention on the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, Cambodia has strictly adhered to the Convention by not using new landmines. Instead, Cambodia has demined and destroyed numerous amounts of existing anti-personnel mines and unexploded or non-exploded remnants from wars.

Furthermore, Cambodia actively participates in global peacekeeping missions and contributes to mine clearance efforts in various countries under the framework of the United Nations. Cambodia is proud of its contribution to the demining and destruction of existing anti-personnel mines and unexploded remnants from wars, as well as sharing its experiences with other countries. In this sense, Cambodia’s reputation is now in the demining and destruction of anti-personnel mines, not planting new ones.

Thank you.